Recording medium having data structure for managing reproduction of still images recorded thereon and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses

ABSTRACT

The recording medium has an information file area that includes at least one information file. The information file is associated with a data file recorded on the recording medium, and the data file includes at least video data. The information file includes a type indicator indicating whether the video data in the data file is for at least one still image.

FOREIGN PRIORITY

[0001] The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 onKorean Application No. 2002-53858 filed Sep. 6, 2002 and KoreanApplication No. 2002-53830 filed Sep. 6, 2002; the contents of eachabove-cited Korean applications are incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a recording medium having a datastructure for managing reproduction of at least still images recordedthereon as well as methods and apparatuses for reproduction andrecording.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] The standardization of new high-density read only and rewritableoptical disks capable of recording large amounts of high-quality videoand audio data has been progressing rapidly and new optical disk relatedproducts are expected to be commercially available on the market in thenear future. The Blu-ray Disc Rewritable (BD-RE) and Blu-ray Disk ROM(BD-ROM) are examples of these new optical disks.

[0006] The standardization for high-density read-only optical disks suchas the Blu-ray ROM (BD-ROM) is still under way. An effective datastructure for managing reproduction of still images recorded on thehigh-density read-only optical disk such as a BD-ROM is not yetavailable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The recording medium according to the present invention includesa data structure for managing reproduction of at least still imagesrecorded on the recording medium.

[0008] In one exemplary embodiment, an information file area of therecording medium includes at least one information file. The informationfile is associated with a data file recorded on the recording medium,and the data file includes at least video data. The information fileincludes a type indicator indicating whether the video data in the datafile is for at least one still image.

[0009] In another exemplary embodiment, a data area stores the datafile, and the data file includes video data representing at least onestill image. Here, each still image in the data file is recorded as apacketized elementary stream packet.

[0010] In yet another exemplary embodiment, a data area stores the datafile, the data file includes video data representing at least one stillimage, and the video data in the data file is recorded as one or morepacketized elementary stream packets. In this embodiment, only one stillimage is represented by each packetized elementary stream packet in thedata file.

[0011] The present invention further provides apparatuses and methodsfor recording and reproducing the data structure according to thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The above features and other advantages of the present inventionwill be more clearly understood from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a recording mediumfile or data structure according to the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a recording medium having thedata structure of FIG. 1 stored thereon;

[0015]FIG. 3 illustrates a method of managing still images for ahigh-density recording medium in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

[0016] FIGS. 4-7 illustrate further methods of recording and managingstill image and still information files according to embodiments of thepresent invention;

[0017] FIGS. 8-11 illustrate further embodiments of file structures fora high-density recording medium according to the present invention;

[0018] FIGS. 12-17 illustrate methods of recording still images andstill information in accordance with additional embodiments of thepresent invention;

[0019]FIG. 18 illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment of anoptical disk recording and reproduction apparatus of the presentinvention; and

[0020]FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate methods of playback of still images fora high-density recording medium in accordance with embodiments of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] In order that the invention may be fully understood, exemplaryembodiments thereof will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

[0022] A high-density optical disk, for example, a Blu-Ray ROM (BD-ROM),BD-RE, etc. in accordance with the invention may have a file or datastructure for managing reproduction of video and audio data as shown inFIG. 1. Some aspects of the data structure according to the presentinvention shown in FIG. 1 are the same as the well-known BD-RE standard,as such these aspects will not be described in great detail.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the root directory contains at least one BDdirectory. The BD directory includes general files (not shown), aPLAYLIST directory in which playlist files (e.g., *.mpls) are stored, aCLIPINF directory in which clip information files (*.clpi) are stored,and a STREAM directory in which MPEG2-formatted A/V stream clip files(*.m2ts), corresponding to the clip information files, are stored.

[0024] The STREAM directory includes MPEG2-formatted A/V stream filescalled clips or clip files. The A/V stream includes source packets ofvideo and audio data. For example, a source packet of video dataincludes a header and a transport packet. A source packet includes asource packet number, which is generally a sequentially assigned numberthat serves as an address for accessing the source packet. Transportpackets include a packet identifier (PID). The PID identifies thesequence of transport packets to which a transport packet belongs. Eachtransport packet in the sequence will have the same PID.

[0025] The CLIPINF directory includes a clip information file associatedwith each A/V stream file. The clip information file indicates, amongother things, the type of A/V stream associated therewith, sequenceinformation, program information and timing information. The sequenceinformation describes the arrival time basis (ATC) and system time basis(STC) sequences. For example, the sequence information indicates, amongother things, the number of sequences, the beginning and ending timeinformation for each sequence, the address of the first source packet ineach sequence and the PID of the transport packets in each sequence. Asequence of source packets in which the contents of a program isconstant is called a program sequence. The program informationindicates, among other things, the number of program sequences, thestarting address for each program sequence, and the PID(s) of transportpackets in a program sequence.

[0026] The timing information is referred to as characteristic pointinformation (CPI). One form of CPI is the entry point (EP) map. The EPmap maps a presentation time stamp (e.g., on an arrival time basis (ATC)and/or a system time basis (STC)) to a source packet address (i.e.,source packet number). The presentation time stamp (PTS) and the sourcepacket number (SPN) are related to an entry point in the AV stream;namely, the PTS and its related SPN point to an entry point on the AVstream. The packet pointed to is often referred to as the entry pointpacket.

[0027] The PLAYLIST directory includes one or more playlist files. Theconcept of a playlist has been introduced to promote ease ofediting/assembling clips for playback. A playlist file is a collectionof playing intervals in the clips. Each playing interval is referred toas a playitem. The playlist file, among other things, identifies eachplayitem forming the playlist, and each playitem, among other things, isa pair of IN-point and OUT-point that point to positions on a time axisof the clip (e.g., presentation time stamps on an ATC or STC basis).Expressed another way, the playlist file identifies playitems, eachplayitem points to a clip or portion thereof and identifies the clipinformation file associated with the clip. The clip information file isused, among other things, to map the playitems to the clip of sourcepackets.

[0028] The general information files (not shown) provide generalinformation for managing the reproduction of the A/V streams recorded onthe optical disk.

[0029] In addition to illustrating the data structure of the recordingmedium according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1represents the areas of the recording medium. For example, the generalinformation files are recorded in one or more general information areas,the playlist directory is recorded in one or more playlist directoryareas, each playlist in a playlist directory is recorded in one or moreplaylist areas of the recording medium, etc. FIG. 2 illustrates anexample of a recording medium having the data structure of FIG. 1 storedthereon. As shown, the recording medium includes a file systeminformation area, a data base area and an A/V stream area. The data basearea includes a general information file and playlist information areaand a clip information area. The general information file and playlistinformation area have the general information files recorded in ageneral information file area thereof, and the PLAYLIST directory andplaylist files recorded in a playlist information area thereof. The clipinformation area has the CLIPINFO directory and associated clipinformation files recorded therein. The A/V stream area has the A/Vstreams for the various titles recorded therein.

[0030] Video and audio data are typically organized as individualtitles; for example, different movies represented by the video and audiodata are organized as different titles. Furthermore, a title may beorganized into individual chapters in much the same way a book is oftenorganized into chapters.

[0031] Because of the large storage capacity of the newer, high-densityrecording media such as BD-ROM and BD-RE optical disks, differenttitles, various versions of a title or portions of a title may berecorded, and therefore, reproduced from the recording media. Forexample, video data representing different camera angles may be recordedon the recording medium. As another example, versions of title orportions thereof associated with different languages may be recorded onthe recording medium. As a still further example, a director's versionand a theatrical version of a title may be recorded on the recordingmedium. Or, an adult version, young adult version and young childversion (i.e., different parental control versions) of a title orportions of a title may be recorded on the recording medium. Eachversion, camera angle, etc. represents a different reproduction path,and the video data in these instances is referred to as multiplereproduction path video data.

[0032] Because of the large storage capacity of the newer, high-densityrecording media such as BD-ROM still images may be recorded andreproduced in an organized and/or user interactive fashion, for example,as slideshows. The data structure for managing reproduction of stillimages for a high-density optical disk in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention will be described along with methods andapparatuses according to embodiments of the present invention forrecording and reproducing still images.

[0033]FIG. 3 illustrates a method of managing still images for ahigh-density recording medium (e.g., high-density optical disk such as aBD-ROM disk) in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In thisembodiment, a part of the data area on, for example, a BD-ROM isreserved exclusively for still images and one or more still images(e.g., MPEG I, JPEG, etc.) are recorded in the still image recordingarea. Alternatively, a still image recording area is allocated to eachof the titles recorded in the data area and still images pertaining toeach title are recorded in the associated still image recording area.

[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the still images (e.g., MPEG I, JPEG,etc.) are stored in a still image file (Still*.tdat) and navigationinformation associated with the still image file is stored in a stillinformation file (Still*.Info).

[0035] The still information file includes various information fieldssuch as ‘type_indicator’, ‘version_number’, ‘length’, etc. The‘type_indicator’ field indicates that the information file is formanaging still images and thus indicates that the data in the associatedstill image file includes data for one or more still images. The‘version_number’ field indicates the syntax version of the stillinformation file, and the ‘length’ field indicates the size of thesyntax data, which is the length of the information field subsequent tothe ‘length’ field.

[0036] If the length is not zero, then the ‘number_of_still_images’field indicates the number of still images stored in the still imagefile associated with the still information file and the ‘tn_block_size’field indicates block size of a still image. As shown in FIG. 4, thestill information file also includes fields of ‘still_image_index’,‘image_byte_size’, ‘horizontal_image_size’, and ‘vertical_image_size’.The function of each field is indicated in the name of the field, andthese fields correspond to each of the still images stored in the stillimage file.

[0037] When one or more still images are stored in a still image file(Still*.tdat) as mentioned above, each of the still images is stored asa PES (packetized elementary stream) packet defined in the MPEGstandards. As shown in FIG. 5, the payload of a PES packet comprises aplurality of source packets, each comprising a 4-byte TP (TransportPacket) extra header and a 188-byte MPEG2 TP.

[0038] The header of the MPEG2 transport packet includes still PIDinformation for indicating that the packet delivers a still image. Thestill PID is given a value not previously used in standards for therecording medium (e.g., BD-RE for high-density optical disks).

[0039] In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6, still images arestored in separate still image files (Still001.tda, Still002.tdat, . . .) and the navigation information associated with the still images isstored in a single still information file (Still*.Info).

[0040] The still information file includes the fields of‘type_indicator’, ‘version_number’, ‘length’, and ‘number_ofstill_images’ mentioned above with reference to the embodiment of FIG.4. For each still image, the still information file also includes an‘image_file_name’ field for storing the name of each image file as wellas the fields of ‘still image index’, ‘image_byte_size’,‘horizontal_image_size’, and ‘vertical_image_size’.

[0041]FIG. 7 illustrates a method of managing still images for ahigh-density recording medium according to another embodiment of theinvention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, each of the still imagesis stored in a still image file (Still001.tda, Still002.tdat, . . . )and the navigation information associated with each of the still imagesis stored in a still information file (Still001. Info, Still002. Info, .. . ). Each of the still information files includes the fields of‘type_indicator’, ‘version_number’, ‘length’, ‘image byte size’,‘horizontal_image size’ and ‘vertical_image_size’ mentioned above withreference to FIG. 4.

[0042] Alternative file structures to that of FIG. 1 for effectivelymanaging still images and still information files will now be describedin detail. FIG. 8 illustrates a file structure of a high-densityrecording medium in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,wherein a plurality of still images are stored in a still image file(still.tdat) and navigation information for the still images is alsostored in a still information file (still.info) as described before. Thestill image file and still information file can be placed in the rootdirectory, for example, ‘BD’.

[0043] The root directory ‘BD’ contains a plurality of title directories(TITLE001, TITLE002, . . . ) and each of the title directories containsubdirectories such as PLAYLIST, CLIPINF, and STREAM.

[0044] In a file structure shown in FIG. 9, both the still image fileand the still information file are placed in the root directory ‘BD’ andTITLE, PLAYLIST, CLIPINF, and STREAM directories are placed in the rootdirectory ‘BD’ as well.

[0045] In a file structure shown in FIG. 10, both the still image fileand the still information file are placed in the STILL directory, whichis a subdirectory of the root directory ‘BD’. The root directory furthercontains a plurality of title directories (TITLE001, TITLE002, . . . )each of which contains PLAYLIST, CLIPIINF, and STREAM directories.

[0046] In a file structure shown in FIG. 11, both the still image fileand the still information file are stored in the STILL directory, whichis a subdirectory the root directory ‘BD’. The root directory furthercontains TITLExxx, PLAYLIST, CLIPINF, and STREAM directories.

[0047] While the above-described embodiments have shown a single stillimage file and single still information file, it should be understoodthat the present invention is not limited to this file structure.Instead, a separate still image file may be provided for each stillimage or a subset of still images and/or a separate still informationfile may be provided for each still image or subset of still images.Alternatively, some combination of these embodiment may be provided.

[0048]FIG. 12 illustrates a method of managing still images inaccordance with another embodiment of the invention, wherein stillimages are intermittently inserted into each title, which includes movievideo data or audio data. As shown, the title is recorded in the dataarea of a BD-ROM.

[0049] A still image (e.g., MPEG I, JPEG, etc.) recorded with movievideo data in each title is stored as a PES (packetized elementarystream) packet. The header of a PES packet contains unique stream IDinformation for indicating that the data contained in the payload is astill image and a PTS (presentation time stamp) indicative of thedisplay timing of the still image.

[0050] The payload of a PES packet comprises a plurality of sourcepackets, each comprising a 4-byte TP (transport packet) extra header anda 188-byte MPEG2 TP (transport packet). The TP extra header comprises2-bit copy information and 30-bit still information or packet arrivaltime stamp. In the case where the source packet corresponds to a stillimage, still information such as ‘image start/end flag’ is used insteadof the packet arrival time stamp.

[0051] The header of an MPEG2 TP packet contains a still PID, which isgiven a value not previously used in the recording medium standard ofinterest, for example, ‘0x1023’ in BD-RE. In an embodiment shown in FIG.13, the first source packet among source packets carrying a plurality ofstill images has the still information such as the image start/end andimage size for the still images

[0052] In an embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the first source packet amongsource packets carrying a still image has still information such as theimage start/end and image size for the still image. As shown in FIG. 15,the still information contains the fields of ‘still_start_end_flag’,‘image_start_end_flag’, ‘number_of images’, ‘display_info’,‘image_info’, ‘image_data_size’, etc.

[0053] For example, if the ‘still_start_end_flag’ field is ‘0’, itindicates the still image start position. If the field is ‘1’, itindicates that the still image end position. The ‘number_of_images’field indicates the number of still images to be displayed.

[0054] The ‘image_info’ field indicates the attributes of the stillimage to be displayed and the display properties. The ‘display_info’field indicates the display timing, display sequence, display effect,and the display effect period of the still image. The ‘image_data_size’indicates the size of the still image.

[0055] In an embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the still information iscontained in the TP extra packet of the first source packet (SourcePacket #1). The TP extra packet of the other source packets containsinformation other than the still information.

[0056] In an embodiment shown in FIG. 17, instead of storing the stillinformation in source packets, still display start information and stillimage start information are stored in playlist information and suchinformation is associated with corresponding source packets.

[0057] An optical disk reproducing apparatus outputs movie data andstill images or audio data and still images to, for example, a connectedtelevision set by referring to navigation information according to thepresent invention such as still information file. FIG. 18 illustrates aschematic diagram of an embodiment of an optical disk recording andreproducing apparatus according to the present invention. As shown, anAV encoder 9 receives and encodes data (e.g., movie video and audiodata, only audio data, and/or still image data). The AV encoder 9outputs the encoded data along with coding information and streamattribute information. A multiplexer 8 multiplexes the encoded databased on the coding information and stream attribute information tocreate, for example, an MPEG-2 transport stream. A source packetizer 7packetizes the transport packets from the multiplexer 8 into sourcepackets in accordance with the audio/video format of the optical disk.As shown in FIG. 18, the operations of the AV encoder 9, the multiplexer8 and the source packetizer 7 are controlled by a controller 10. Thecontroller 10 receives user input on the recording operation, andprovides control information to AV encoder 9, multiplexer 8 and thesource packetizer 7. For example, the controller 10 instructs the AVencoder 9 on the type of encoding to perform, instructs the multiplexer8 on the transport stream to create, and instructs the source packetizer7 on the source packet format. The controller 10 further controls adrive 3 to record the output from the source packetizer 7 on the opticaldisk.

[0058] The controller 10 also creates the navigation and managementinformation for managing reproduction of the data being recorded on theoptical disk. For example, based on information received via the userinterface (e.g., instruction set saved on disk, provided over anintranet or internet by a computer system, etc.) the controller 10controls the drive 3 to record one or more of the data structures ofFIGS. 1-17 on the optical disk.

[0059] During reproduction, the controller 10 controls the drive 3 toreproduce this data structure. Based on the information containedtherein, as well as user input received over the user interface (e.g.,control buttons on the recording and reproducing apparatus or a remoteassociated with the apparatus), the controller 10 controls the drive 3to reproduce the data from the optical disk. For example, as discussedabove with respect to the embodiments of the present invention, a stillimage or still images may be reproduced based on the navigationinformation provided in a still information file.

[0060] The reproduced source packets are received by a sourcedepacketizer 4 and converted into a data stream (e.g., an MPEG-2transport packet stream). A demultiplexer 5 demultiplexes the datastream into encoded data. An AV decoder 6 decodes the encoded data toproduce the original data that was feed to the AV encoder 9. Duringreproduction, the controller 10 controls the operation of the sourcedepacketizer 4, demultiplexer 5 and AV decoder 6. The controller 10receives user input on the reproducing operation, and provides controlinformation to AV decoder 6, demultiplexer 5 and the source packetizer4. For example, the controller 10 instructs the AV decoder 9 on the typeof decoding to perform, instructs the demultiplexer 5 on the transportstream to demultiplex, and instructs the source depacketizer 4 on thesource packet format.

[0061] While FIG. 18 has been described as a recording and reproducingapparatus, it will be understood that only a recording or only areproducing apparatus may be provided using those portions of FIG. 18providing the recording or reproducing function.

[0062] In FIG. 19, the apparatus reads still images intermittentlyrecorded in each title with movie video and audio and stores the stillimages in a temporary buffer. Then, the apparatus performs stilloperations using the still information recorded in various ways asdescribed above.

[0063] In FIG. 20, the optical disk reproducing apparatus reads stillimages with movie video and audio recorded in each title and stores thestill images in an internal temporary buffer of the VDP system. Then,the apparatus performs still operations by synchronizing the timings ofstill images and video or audio data using the display time of stillimages and presentation time of video or audio data.

[0064] As will be appreciated from the forgoing disclosure, the presentinvention provides a recording medium having a data structure formanaging still images recorded on a high-density recording medium (e.g.,a high-density optical disk such as a BD-ROM). For example, the datastructure allows for displaying movie video and still images or audioand still images in various ways.

[0065] As apparent from the above description, the present inventionprovides methods and apparatuses for recording a data structure on ahigh density recording medium for managing still images recorded on therecording medium.

[0066] While the invention has been disclosed with respect to a limitednumber of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the benefit ofthis disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications and variationsthere from. For example, while described with respect to a Blu-ray ROMoptical disk in several instances, the present invention is not limitedto this standard of optical disk or to optical disks. It is intendedthat all such modifications and variations fall within the spirit andscope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording medium having a data structure formanaging reproduction of at least still images recorded on the recordingmedium, comprising: an information file area including at least oneinformation file, the information file associated with a data filerecorded on the recording medium, the data file including at least videodata, and the information file including a type indicator indicatingwhether the video data in the data file is for at least one still image.2. The recording medium of claim 1, wherein the information file furtherincludes a length indicator indicating a length of the information filesubsequent to the length indicator.
 3. The recording medium of claim 1,further comprising: a data area storing the data file.
 4. The recordingmedium of claim 3, wherein each still image in the data file is recordedas a packetized elementary stream packet.
 5. The recording medium ofclaim 4, wherein each packetized elementary stream packet includes atleast one source packet.
 6. The recording medium of claim 5, whereineach source packet includes at least one transport packet.
 7. Therecording medium of claim 3, wherein the video data in the data file isrecorded as one or more packetized elementary stream packets.
 8. Therecording medium of claim 7, wherein only one still image is representedby each packetized elementary stream packet in the data file.
 9. Therecording medium of claim 3, wherein the video data of the data filerepresents a still image and is recorded in the data area interleavedwith other data.
 10. The recording medium of claim 9, wherein the otherdata is at least one of movie data and audio data.
 11. A recordingmedium having a data structure for managing reproduction of at leaststill images recorded on the recording medium, comprising: a data areastoring the data file, the data file including video data representingat least one still image, and each still image in the data file isrecorded as a packetized elementary stream packet.
 12. The recordingmedium of claim 11, wherein each packetized elementary stream packetincludes at least one source packet.
 13. The recording medium of claim12, wherein each source packet includes at least one transport packet.14. The recording medium of claim 11, wherein the video data of the datafile is recorded in the data area interleaved with other data.
 15. Therecording medium of claim 4, wherein the other data is at least one ofmovie data and audio data.
 16. A recording medium having a datastructure for managing reproduction of at least still images recorded onthe recording medium, comprising: a data area storing the data file, thedata file including video data representing at least one still image,the video data in the data file being recorded as one or more packetizedelementary stream packets, and only one still image is represented byeach packetized elementary stream packet in the data file.
 17. A methodof reproducing a data structure for managing reproduction of at leaststill images recorded on a recording medium, comprising: reproducing atleast one information file from the recording medium, the informationfile associated with a data file recorded on the recording medium, thedata file including at least video data, and the information fileincluding a type indicator indicating whether the video data in the datafile is for at least one still image.
 18. An apparatus for reproducing adata structure for managing reproduction of at least still imagesrecorded on a recording medium, comprising: a driver for driving anoptical reproducing device to reproduce data recorded on the recordingmedium; a controller for controlling the driver to reproduce at leastone information file from the recording medium, the information fileassociated with a data file recorded on the recording medium, the datafile including at least video data, and the information file including atype indicator indicating whether the video data in the data file is forat least one still image.
 19. A method of recording a data structure formanaging reproduction of at least still images recorded on a recordingmedium, comprising: recording at least one information file on therecording medium, the information file associated with a data filerecorded on the recording medium, the data file including at least videodata, and the information file including a type indicator indicatingwhether the video data in the data file is for at least one still image.20. An apparatus for recording a data structure for managingreproduction of at least multiple reproduction path video data on arecording medium, comprising: a driver for driving an optical recordingdevice to record data on the recording medium; an encoder for encodingat least multiple reproduction path video data; and a controller forcontrolling the driver to record at least one information file on therecording medium, the information file associated with a data filerecorded on the recording medium, the data file including at least videodata, and the information file including a type indicator indicatingwhether the video data in the data file is for at least one still image.